INEC to hold fresh polls in Taraba on April 25

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to hold fresh governorship elections in Taraba state on April 25.

This was disclosed on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, by the INEC Head of Public Affairs, Fabian Yame, in Jalingo the state capital.

Earlier elections held in the state on April 11 were declared inconclusive after the number of cancelled votes amounted to more than the difference in votes between the two major candidates; Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

127,125 votes were cancelled while Ishaku polled 317,198 and Alhassan came second with 262,386 votes.

Fresh elections will be held in the Donga Local Government and in some polling units in Bali, Karim Lamido, Takum, Ussa, Wukari, Yorro and Zing.

Rivers Elections was daylight robbery,’ Governor replies Obanikoro

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he will not congratulate the state’s Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike on his victory in the recently held elections.

Amaechi stated this in response to a call for him to congratulate Wike made by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro.

Amaechi also termed the April 11 governorship elections in the state as ‘daylight robbery’.

“Because of the larger interest of Rivers state, I and most Rivers people will not accept that daylight robbery they called elections,” the governor said via Twitter on April 14, 2015.

“The election was a sham, a disgrace, an affront on democracy. Please read the reports of EU and other INEC accredited election observers before you open your mouth to spew rubbish. If your values are so debased and rotten that you saw nothing wrong with the elections in Rivers State, mine is not. Never will,” he added.

Obanikoro had said that he congratulated Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode despite having misgivings about the conduct of the polls.

He went further to urge Amaechi to accept the results of the elections conducted in Rivers despite his objections.

Opposition should wait till 2018,’ Governor responds to court judgment upholding his victory

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has responded to the court judgment affirming his victory at the June 2014 governorship elections.

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, that Fayose had been validly elected while dismissing the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fayose, in a statement urged the opposition to sheathe their swords and accept the judgment.

Read the full statement below:

"I want to sincerely appreciate Ekiti people for their resilience and love for me. I am formally dedicating this victory to God and to them. Having voted for me ten months ago, and confirming the victory by the subsequent elections in the last few weeks, they have shown that they are unequivocal about their choice and their determination to protect and defend that mandate."

"I cannot but appreciate the Apex Court for protecting democracy and also for living to the expectation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who had assured that under his leadership, the judiciary would not subscribe to any plot to change the outcome of elections through the instrumentality of the Court."

"I think the necessary lessons must have been learnt and it is obvious that Nigeria is evolving democratically. To my opponents, I plead with you to sheath your sword and join me in the development of Ekiti State. If truly our struggle is about service to our dear State, it is time to come together and channel all our resources towards the development of the State."

"I am irrevocably committed to the protection of all, including the opposition in the State. Nobody is infallible, and I am not a perfect being. The only one that is perfect is God, but He, in His infinite mercies has made me the Governor of Ekiti State today. I have a term and tenure; there will be another opportunity for Ekiti people to decide who governs them."

"Rather than trouble the peace of the State, our friends in the opposition parties should accept the will of God concerning our dear State and wait till 2018. I thank all stakeholders and I am assuring them that I will leave Ekiti State better than I met it. My special appreciation also goes to the security agencies for being alive to their responsibilities."

"May the Almighty God continue to bless Ekiti State."

Fayose won 203,090 votes to defeat APC candidate and incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi.

Rivers Guber Election: Emulate Jonathan, PDP tells APC

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers on Wednesday urged All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to congratulate Chief Nyesom Wike, the governor-elect on his victory in the gubernatorial election. Mr Emma Okah, the Chairman, PDP’s Publicity Committee stated this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt. Okah condemned in totality the spurious allegations of rigging being peddled by the APC intended to smear PDP’s victory in the state.

‘’We urge the losers to be courageous and honourable, and if truly they are democrats, to emulate our beloved President Goodluck Jonathan in showing the spirit of sportsmanship. ‘’Rather than fan the embers of disunity and peddling falsehood, they should congratulate the winners.’’ Okah, who congratulated Rivers people on their support for PDP in the face of intimidation by the ruling party in the state, said the victory marked a new dawn in the state.

He explained that PDP’s victory was a reward for hard work and resilience, adding that the party was a household name in the state. He congratulated the governor-elect and his deputy, saying that the victory was a ‘’call duty’’ to repair and restore Rivers back to its lost glory. He further commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its impartiality in the conduct of the election, saying that it had laid foundation for future credible elections.

He also observed that the security agencies performed their duty well by protecting and securing voters without much challenges. Okah also thanked the media, on behalf of the PDP, for its objectivity and neutrality in the coverage and reportage of the elections.

Nigeria’s Governorship Poll: State By State Result

The governorship elections held on Saturday, April 11, 2015. The state by state result:

Abia Governorship Election is inconclusive.

Adamawa Mohammed Umar Jibrilla 362,329 Nuhu Ahmed Ribadu (PDP) 98,970 Markus Gundiri (SDP) 181,806.

Akwa-Ibom Umana Okon Umana 89,865 Emmanuel Udom Gabriel 996,071 Helen Esuene (Labour Party) 86,000
Bauchi Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar 654,934 Jatau Mohammad Auwal 282,650.

Benue Samuel Ortom 387,753 Terhemen Tarzoor 296,189.

Borno Collation in Progress.

Cross-River Odey Anthony Ochicha 53,983 Ben Ayade 342,016 Fidelis Ugbo 36,918 (Labour party).

Delta Oghenetega Emerhor (APC) 67,825 Okowa Ifeanyi Arthur 724,680 Great Ogboru (Labour Party) 130,028.

Ebonyi Julius Ucha 27,583 Dave Umahi 289,867 Edward Nkwegu (Labour Party) 124,817.

Enugu Okey Ezea 43,839 Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 482,277 Oba Maduabuchi (APGA) 3,303.

Gombe Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya 205,132 Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo 285,369.

Imo Governorship is Inconclusive.

Jigawa Abubakar Badaru 644,048 Abubakar Aminu Ringim 462,110.

Kaduna Nasir El-Rufai 1,117,635 Mukhtar Ramalan Yero 485,833 Polycarp Danladi (APGA) 20,140.

Kano Abdullahi Umar Ganduje 1,546,434 Salihu Muhammad Sagir 599,726.

Katsina Aminu Bello Masari 943,085 Musa Nashuni 476,768 Abdullahi Tsauri (APGA) 42,302.

Kebbi Abubakar Atiku Bagudu 477,376 Bello Sarkin Yaki 293,443.

Kwara Abdul Fatah Ahmed 295,832 Simeon Ajibola 115,220 Mike Omotosho (Labour Party) 2,973.

Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode 811,994 Jimmy Kolawole Agbaje 659,788 Bolaji Ogunseye (AD) 6,087.

Nasarawa Umar Tanko Al-Makura 309,746 Yusuf Agabi 119,782 Labaran Maku (APGA) 178,983.

Niger Abubakar Bello 593,702 Umar Nasko 239,772.

Ogun Ibikunle Amosun 306,988 Adegboyega Nasiru Isiaka 201,440 Akin Odunsi (SDP) 25,826.

Oyo Abiola Ajimobi 327,310 Rashidi Ladoja (Accord Party) 254,520.

Plateau Simon Bako Lalong 537,050 Gyang Shom Pwajok 501,938.

Rivers Dakuku Adol Peterside 124,896 Nyesom Ezenwo Wike 1,029,102.

Sokoto Aminu Waziri Tambuwal 647,609 Abdalla Wali 269,074.

Taraba Result being awaited Result being awaited Result being awaited.

Yobe Ibrahim Gaidam 334,847 Adamu Maina Waziri 179,700.

Zamfara Abdulaziz Yari 716,964 Mamuda Shinkafi 201,938 Sani Shinkafi (APGA) 2,385.

In summary, so far, APC has won 18 states, while the PDP won 7 states.

Buhari: I will not promise to bring back chibok girls, but I...

Nigeria’s President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged to do all possible to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok in Borno State, by Boko Haram militants, a year ago.

The girls were seized April 14, 2014 from their dormitories as they prepared for exams.

The current federal government has failed to rescue them, and has been widely criticised for not doing enough, until recently, to tackle Boko Haram.

In a statement marking the girls’ one year in captivity, Mr. Buhari said his government will act differently.

But he warned that the new approach must begin with “honesty”, in admitting that the girls’ whereabouts are unknown, and that as much as he wishes to, he cannot promise his government can find them.

Still, he assured “every parent, family member and friend of the children that my Government will do everything in its power to bring them home”.

Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Ayo Fayose

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Ayo Fayose as the governor of Ekiti State, dismissing a suit that sought to nullify the 2014 polls.

Mr. Fayose’s election was challenged by the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose candidate in the election, Kayode Fayemi, lost to Mr. Fayose.

The governor is currently facing an attempt by state lawmakers to impeach him.

Ahead of the Supreme Court ruling, Mr. Fayose, in a state-wide broadcast on Monday asked the people of the state to maintain the peace and pursue their businesses and lawful duties normally.

He credited the success of his Peoples Democratic Party in Saturday’s House of Assembly election to Ekiti residents and thanked them accordingly.

Mr. Fayose said the victory confirmed that he had the genuine support of the people.

The governor said he would be vindicated at the end of the day and “triumph over whatever plot being hatched to truncate,” his tenure.

‎The APC had petitioned the Ekiti Governorship Election Tribunal challenging the victory of Mr. Fayose in the governorship election.

The Tribunal, on December 19, 2014, upheld Mr. Fayose’s victory and dismissed the APC’s petition for “lack of merit”.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, the APC went to the Court of Appeal, on the grounds that Mr. Fayose was not eligible to contest the governorship election since he had been impeached on October 16, 2006 during his first tenure as governor.

The APC also alleged that the governor forged his academic credentials and breached the Code of Conduct rules.

On February 16, a five-member Appeal Court panel, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, upheld the judgment of the Election Tribunal and affirmed Mr. Fayose as winner of the June 21, 2014 poll.

The Appeal Court, however, upheld APC’s complaints that the military was used to harass and intimidate its supporters and leaders during the polls.

The APC, not satisfied with the judgment, went to the Supreme Court.

The court on Tuesday upheld Mr. Fayose’s election, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Details of the ruling are yet unclear.

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